Javier Mascherano Reportedly Facing Spanish Investigation After Unpaid Taxes

Barcelona star Javier Mascherano is reportedly facing a legal investigation after failing to pay €1.5 million (£1.1 million) in taxes on his image rights.  

Spanish newspaper El Pais (h/t AS) alleges the Argentinian midfielder attempted to dodge payments on earnings declared from his image rights in 2011 and 2012:

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Javier Mascherano failed to disclose 1,5 million euro [£1.1 million] from the Spanish Tax authorities by leasing out his image rights to foreign companies. The tax authority has started investigations despite the Argentinean player having already paid the sum of money in question along with the 200,000 euro [£145,455] in interest.

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Mascherano reportedly covered the outstanding balance on advice from his lawyers, but the former Liverpool player is still set to be "accused in a legal hearing," per El Pais (h/t AS).

The 31-year-old is not unique among Barcelona players. Compatriot and club teammate Lionel Messi is still currently embroiled in a tax fraud case and is set to face trial over allegedly keeping €4.1 million (£3 million) from Spanish authorities, per the Guardian's Ashifa Kassam.

Paco Serinelli/Associated Press

Camp Nou centre-back Gerard Pique was also ordered to shell out nearly £2 million in unpaid taxes earlier this year, per Liam Corless of the Daily Mirror.

Indeed, the Catalan club themselves are currently involved in a tax dispute of their own over the controversial signing of Neymar from Santos in 2013, per BBC News.

While controversy reigns off of the pitch in Barcelona—they are still also seeing out a transfer ban handed down by FIFA—Luis Enrique's side continue to excel on it.

Fresh from being part of the treble-winning season in 2014-15, Mascherano has been involved in both La Liga games so far this term from which Barca have garnered maximum points.

The first major test of the season awaits this weekend when the Blaugrana face title-rivals Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon Stadium.